Record-setting day for the Hill Climb

By: Brooke Pryor sports@gazette.com

June 30, 2013Updated: June 30, 2013 at 10:10 pm

0

Unlimited division racer Sebastien Loeb celebrates after shattering the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course record during his rookie year in the race Sunday, June 30, 2013 with a time of 8 minutes 13 seconds. Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette

From the minute that Sebastien Loeb announced he would compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb behind the wheel of a Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak, the renowned racer faced uncharted expectations.

And on a cold Sunday afternoon, Loeb delivered.

Touted as the first racer with the capability of breaking nine minutes, Loeb did just that in electrifying style.

After the motorcycles completed their runs, Loeb took the course and in a record 8 minutes, 13.878 seconds later, he crossed the finish line, breaking last year's record of 9:46.181.

"There was a lot of pressure to have to achieve a big project," Loeb said. "I love the people behind it, and I was really happy with my time."

In the Electric division Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima shattered a record of his own by posting the fastest time, 9:46.530, ever recorded by an electric car on the course. The victory was his 10th in the Hill Climb.

Race veteran Paul Dallenbach broke Rhys Millen's 2012 record in the Time Attack by posting 9:46.001.